For Immediate Release...
Branson, Missouri USA - June 11, 2005
For more information also contact: Bill Groninger - 417-337-8387

 

Hamner Barber Theater benefit supports local Vietnam veterans chapter.

Jim Barber, the Blues Brothers from the Legends in Concert, the Braschlers, the Brett Family, Dave Hamner, Tony Orlando, Jim Owen and Yakov Smirnoff are among the entertainers scheduled to perform in a benefit show for Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 913 of Branson on Monday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Hamner Barber Theater, 3090 Shepherd of the Hills Expy., Branson.

This is the second year in a row that the Hamner Barber Theater has opened the curtains for this important event and this year's Master of Ceremonies will be the hilarious Tom Mullica performing as Red Skelton.

"Proceeds will be used to assist our military personnel and families deployed to Iraq. This is within the guidelines of the organization’s founding principle ‘Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon another.’ The VVA relies totally on private contributions for its revenue and does not receive any funding from federal, state or local governments. The entertainers are donating their time for this show.

Call 417-334-4363 for advance reservations. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children," said Tom Brett of the Brett Family, who is organizing the show.

The Branson chapter is one of 525 local chapters of the national non-profit organization with more than 50,000 individual members in 43 state councils. Founded in 1978, the VVA is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans. Its first principle is that the organization is measured by deeds and openness as evidence of the core values of justice, integrity, and meaningful achievement.

Among its special programs are government relations advocacy on the range of veterans issues, a national task force for homeless veterans, health care for veterans including disabled veterans, issues pertaining to women and minority veterans, a national scholarship fund and a program providing assistance to veterans seeking benefits/services from the government.

The Veterans Center in Springfield provides assistance with housing, counseling, application for disability compensation, medical care through the VA and assistance to any needy veterans in this area. VVA Chapter 913 meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Golden Corral. Vietnam era veterans are welcome. For more information call 417-479-0799.